Quickly any ideas horse itchy nose??

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Limbo1

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My horse has been dragging her nose round field like going to roll. Now in and end of nose is twitching from side to side, itchy and letting me itch it. Nothing in mouth I can see.
FYI she had a facial injury a couple of weeks ago. Could this be signs of assess?? Injury was to cheek. Help??
 
My horse drags her nose round the field when she has been eating nettles or thistles, the sting must irritate her. It wears off after a while. Do you have nettles in the field, they are beginning to wilt at the moment so she might have tried them? If she is still doing it I would get her in and wash her nose and put on some soothing gel if you have some and see if that makes any difference. If she continues to be distressed, I would speak to your vet.
 
WandaMare said:
My horse drags her nose round the field when she has been eating nettles or thistles, the sting must irritate her. It wears off after a while. Do you have nettles in the field, they are beginning to wilt at the moment so she might have tried them? If she is still doing it I would get her in and wash her nose and put on some soothing gel if you have some and see if that makes any difference. If she continues to be distressed, I would speak to your vet.
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Thanks I have open up a track of grazing today so could be that. Have washed will see what I can find to sooth. Always a Friday night they do stuff!!!
 
Where was the injury? This can be a sign of trigeminal nerve damage. It runs close to the surface round where the cheek pieces on a bridle normally touch. If the injury was in that area, it could be related.
 
Limbo1 said:
Thanks I have open up a track of grazing today so could be that. Have washed will see what I can find to sooth. Always a Friday night they do stuff!!!
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Ah sounds possible then. Aloe Vera gel is good but anything which cools the skin would do. Fingers crossed she settles down soon for you.
 
ycbm said:
Where was the injury? This can be a sign of trigeminal nerve damage. It runs close to the surface round where the cheek pieces on a bridle normally touch. If the injury was in that area, it could be related.
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The injury was between eye, cheek and mouth. She was kicked about 6 weeks ago. Big haematoma open wound for 4 weeks and antibiotics. Been healed for 2 weeks ish.
 
Limbo1 said:
The injury was between eye, cheek and mouth. She was kicked about 6 weeks ago. Big haematoma open wound for 4 weeks and antibiotics. Been healed for 2 weeks ish.
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I would suspect that a damaged nerve has regrown. If she continues to do it, please get her checked out. In humans, this problem is called 'the suicide disease' because it is so painful. I could not cure mine and he was put down after a cheekbone injury which left him squeezing his nose between his fetlocks top try to get some relief. Check the blink rate. A high number of blinks a minute indicates pain. You might also see what looks like fingers on her cheeks. Those are also a pain sign. I don't mean to worry you, but if she has trigeminal nerve pain she needs help. I hope for both of you that this is simply an itchy nose. Fingers crossed.



This is the injury which mine could not recover from.
IMAG0102.JPG
 
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ycbm said:
I would suspect that a damaged nerve has regrown. If she continues to do it, please get her checked out. In humans, this problem is called 'the suicide disease' because it is so painful. I could not cure mine and he was put down after a cheekbone injury which left him squeezing his nose between his fetlocks top try to get some relief. Check the blink rate. A high number of blinks a minute indicates pain. You might also see what looks like fingers on her cheeks. Those are also a pain sign. I don't mean to worry you, but if she has trigeminal nerve pain she needs help. I hope for both of you that this is simply an itchy nose. Fingers crossed.
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Oh God hope not! We are up early taking kids ponies to a show so I can check then. She did not seem in pain blinking fine on the other side, the injury side she has no eye. Eating and drinking without signs of pain ie stress.
 
Limbo1 said:
Oh God hope not! We are up early taking kids ponies to a show so I can check then. She did not seem in pain blinking fine on the other side, the injury side she has no eye. Eating and drinking without signs of pain ie stress.
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I've added a picture. Mine was eating fine but he became aggressive with other horses. His blink rate was an almost constant 80. He itched his nose and had fans of muscle on his cheeks. Even if it is the nerve in yours, I would hope it is temporary while it is healing. I tried to give mine three months to recover, but at two months he was in such pain there was only one fair option for him.
 
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Thanks for pic. Her injury was further down if you imagine where the cheek piece of bridle goes. The wound was only a few cm but as we know that means nothing. Of she is still doing it in am will get vet. Thanks for info. Xx
 
before getting the vet I'd try piriton in case it's pollen or nettle stings etc, if she's still doing it in the morning. Mine will occasionally rub both outside of the muzzle and the inside too (raises the top lip) on the wall or floor, or stick the whole face into the water trough upto the eyes. It's just because of pollen or eating something stingy, won't wait for nettles/thistles to wilt and eats them fresh sometimes with a technique of turning head to the side and picking them from the bottom, but I guess still gets a few stings.
 
another who would suspect either itching due to healing/cell regeneration/nerve regrowth. would have concern if the injury site is not located where the 'itch' is located, but would perhaps wait until the site of injury is fully healed until taking further action unless the horse is making the site of injury worse or causing additional tissue damage before taking next steps.
 
Update; so mare stopped then restarted behaviour over the last week. I spoke to my vet who suggested a few things to try non worked. So she came out tue and gave a steroid injection. Trying to discount allergy first. I thought that she looked better but on a ride she started up again!!

Ycbm how was your horses nerve damage diagnosed? Vet is giving me options of x-ray, ct or mri. All expensive (insured but have 17.5% excess). Also bloody horse takes hours to load so that added stress!
 
Limbo1 said:
Update; so mare stopped then restarted behaviour over the last week. I spoke to my vet who suggested a few things to try non worked. So she came out tue and gave a steroid injection. Trying to discount allergy first. I thought that she looked better but on a ride she started up again!!

Ycbm how was your horses nerve damage diagnosed? Vet is giving me options of x-ray, ct or mri. All expensive (insured but have 17.5% excess). Also bloody horse takes hours to load so that added stress!
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The site of the injury and his pain. My vet told me that no x rays or scan would be likely to assist, and even if they did it would entail further large expense. The horse had already had a kissing spines operation and a big further investment with an extremely uncertain result wasn't on the cards. As it happens, he was clearly (to me) in terrible pain, then began to fit and that took it out of my hands.

I'm so sorry you are going through something similar.
 
ycbm said:
The site of the injury and his pain. My vet told me that no x rays or scan would be likely to assist, and even if they did it would entail further large expense. The horse had already had a kissing spines operation and a big further investment with an extremely uncertain result wasn't on the cards. As it happens, he was clearly (to me) in terrible pain, then began to fit and that took it out of my hands.

I'm so sorry you are going through something similar.
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Thanks. She is not in pain just very annoyed. It is weird as the bouts only last 20mins or so. The vet and I also wonder about an absess pressing on the nerve. Or something neurological? Non of this is good. I tried to load her in my trailer as a little test and her messing about tearing etc brought on another bout. I worry if I get her in she will hurt herself trying to itch and throw her head about. Maybe sedate her???
 
Limbo1 said:
Thanks. She is not in pain just very annoyed. It is weird as the bouts only last 20mins or so. The vet and I also wonder about an absess pressing on the nerve. Or something neurological? Non of this is good. I tried to load her in my trailer as a little test and her messing about tearing etc brought on another bout. I worry if I get her in she will hurt herself trying to itch and throw her head about. Maybe sedate her???
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What is her blink rate during one of the episodes? I'm confused how you can be so certain that she is not in pain?
 
ycbm said:
What is her blink rate during one of the episodes? I'm confused how you can be so certain that she is not in pain?
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Vet did not seem to think she was. Her blinking is normal in her one eye which is on the other side. The word I would use is upset, like she is trying to shake out something. I wish I knew how to post a video. I go from being totally convinced she has a very serious issue to thinking the opposite.
 
Limbo1 said:
Vet did not seem to think she was. Her blinking is normal in her one eye which is on the other side. The word I would use is upset, like she is trying to shake out something. I wish I knew how to post a video. I go from being totally convinced she has a very serious issue to thinking the opposite.
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Mine never shook, he just hurt. Yours doesn't sound the same at all. I hope she recovers soon.
 
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